The overall sex ratio in Uttar Pradesh improved during the first decade of the century, though a decline in the number of girls for every 1,000 boys up to six years of age could be a cause for concern, according to data collated for the latest census.
The sex ratio for the state as per the 2011 census was 912, which was a slight improvement from 898 in 2001, according to Joint Director at the Directorate of Census Operation Uttar Pradesh, Pradeep Kumar.
Significantly, the number of girls in three districts - Jaunpur, Azamgarh and Deoria - exceeded 1,000 boys. The girl population in Jaunpur, Azamgarh and Deoria was 1,024, 1,019 and 1,017 respectively, he said yesterday at a press conference here, adding, all these districts fall in the impoverished eastern region.
"However, when it came to children of the age group 0-6 years, the number of girls for every 1000 boys fell from 916 in 2001 to 902 in 2001", Kumar said at a news conference here yesterday.
The best sex ratio for children was recorded in Balrampur district (950) while the worst was in Baghpat (841). The deterioration in sex ratio among children was more pronounced in the rural areas where it dropped from 921 to 906. Sex ratio among children in urban areas was worse, though the decline over the decade was less sharp (from 890 to 885), he added.
The population of Scheduled Castes in the state grew by 62.09 lakh to 4.14 crore during the period, their percentage vis-a-vis the state's total population (19.98 crore) shrunk (from 21.1% to 20.07%).
